Samantha (Sam) Dodson McNeil

June 4, 1977 – March 4, 2025

Samantha (Sam) Dodson McNeill, of Haymarket, VA., age 47, died Tuesday March 4, 2025, with her loving husband and children by her side. She was born in Lee County on June 4, 1977, daughter of Gregg Charles Dodson and the late Dianne Hallman Dodson.

Samantha graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a degree in Business Management. She worked with Lowe's Home Improvement in Winston Salem, NC until the birth of her twin sons in 2002, upon which she decided to stay at home with them. She had her third son in 2008. She poured everything into her three sons and husband. Her greatest joy and accomplishments were the love of her husband and the gift of being a mom to her three children. As they grew, she decided to devote time to other's children, teaching at St. Paul's Episcopal Preschool in Winston Salem, NC. Upon moving to Virginia, Sam was quick to seek out jobs which focused on children, working for ABC Behavior in Warrenton and Harrison Street Academy in Leesburg. Sam loved her family and friends fiercely.

Sam loved to travel. Two of her favorite places were Hilton Head Island and Hawaii. Sam loved to read and was considered by many to be a tech genius. She was the IT Department for her friends and family when it came to setting up new gadgets. Sam often spoke of how she hoped her battle with breast cancer would encourage others to get regular mammograms. She longed to help others in her community struggling with breast cancer. She and her family ask that donations be made in lieu of flowers to "For 3 Sisters". Link: https://givebutter.com/mcneill

Surviving is her husband, Mark McNeill, children, Bryson, Jackson, and Turner McNeill of the home. Father, Gregg Dodson; siblings, Tracy Gilland (Randy) of Fuquay Varina, Cindy Dodson of Sanford, Gregg Dodson II of Raleigh, Robbie Bogan (Annie) of Sanford; parents in law Jimmy and Carolyn McNeill of Broadway; brother-in-law Todd McNeill (Tracy) of Broadway; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Sam and Elizabeth Hallman, her parental grandparents Jim and Madelyn Dodson, her mom Dianne Dodson, her uncles Sammy and Stevie Hallman, her nephew Jacob McNeill.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday (3/13/2025) at 2pm at Moore Union Christian Church, 4294 Buckhorn Rd, Sanford, NC 27330 with Rev. David Yarborough officiating.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall and other times at the homes of Pete & Carolyn McNeill, Broadway NC and Gregg Dodson, Sanford NC. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home, Broadway, Inc.

"For 3 Sisters" https://givebutter.com/mcneill